A fresh wave of postal strikes was dramatically called off on Thursday night just hours before the latest walkouts were due to start.
Members of the Communication Workers' Union have held a series of strikes in recent months which have caused huge delays to mail deliveries.
But following several days of talks between the union leaders and the Royal Mail, an agreement was finally reached.
The union's postal executive is believed to have sanctioned the agreement at a meeting in London on Thursday.
Mark Higson, Managing Director of Royal Mail Letters, said: "I'm delighted for our customers and our people that we've got back to a sensible agreement with the CWU that will allow us to deliver a great Christmas while getting on with vital talks about the long term future of Royal Mail
- and allows us to drive forward with the essential modernisation of Royal Mail in the new year."
He added: "We look forward to positive and constructive discussions on the next stage of Royal Mail's modernisation plan, which is key to the future of the company, all those who rely on it, and to the future of the Universal Service."
© UTV News